geezers and almost-geezers: what do you miss most about being young?

[Skittles]

I'm going with the reminder on a daily basis that I cannot read without glasses

I've heard that lasik doesn't work so great on aging eyes, but there is another technique on the horizon? I would LOVE to see the way I did when I was 20.....yes indeed.

[SeattleVet]

1. Long walks

with my knees the way they are now, there is no way I could do the things I used to. When I was growing up near NYC, I'd take the IRT down to 72nd Street, get out and walk through Central Park, then down to Battery Park, then back up to Greenwich Village, then Chinatown for dinner, and grab the subway back home.

Yesterday I had a little bit of difficulty walking 10 blocks (mostly downhill) to the shop to pick up my motorcycle after some servicing.

[Skittles]

215. I really would like to take that walk some day

I am a movie buff and can picture the places

still, ten blocks is still a walk

[Arkansas Granny]

2. Running.

My sister told me once that she has dreams where she still smokes. I have dreams where I can still run.

[Skittles]

7. I know what she means by the cigarette dreams

I smoked for a long time, and for years after I quit I'd dream about having a smoke, then just berating myself for it. I call it the nicotine demon, ready to strike at any time. I haven't had one in a while now (dream or cigarette).

I was never a runner, but wearing a fitbit for a while has shown me I average over 20,000 steps daily

[Arkansas Granny]

15. I smoked for many years myself, but I've never had a smoke dream.

I wasn't a serious runner, but I've always been a real active person and I hate not being able to just do all the physical things I used to take for granted.

[retrowire]

70. average over 20,000 steps daily? DAMN

My Microsoft Band informs my 29 yr old self walks about 8000 steps a day.

YOU FIT!

[Skittles]

72. oddly enough, the fitbit made me take it easier

other surprises: my heart rate is about 42 when I wake up, and ALWAYS in "fat burn" mode when I turn in for the night

I'm wondering how accurate that is

right now I just turned 20,000 steps, but I am always awake all night - my day starts around 1500 (3 PM) but I don't think there is a way to make a fitbit reset at a time other than midnight

[retrowire]

73. Like, do you have a car? LOL

Do you live in a downtown where pedestrianism is more convenient anyways?

[Skittles]

87. I only put 4000 miles on my car in a year

yeah, I do walk a lot

[retrowire]

91. Damn

Well at least you're getting good mileage out of that body of yours. I wish I could do more with mine.

[golfguru]

205. 8000 steps daily is plenty to stay healthy

much more than is risking bone joints wearing out prematurely. I find it works best if I walk every other day. That gives my 76 year old body time to heal and recuperate from the exercise, and get rid of the lactic acid formed in muscles every time one exercises.

[Skittles]

211. I swear I get 8000 just searching for my keys, my shoes, the remote

yes INDEED

[golfguru]

232. Make it a point to misplace your keys & remote!

Do not give a damn if anyone snickers at you for early onset of Alzheimers. Look at the positive side..Your failing memory is building strong heart & leg muscles hehehe..

But you misplace shoes as well? That is one item I have never misplaced. But give me time, one of these days I might stick them in the freezer!

[NJCher]

83. wow!

My doc suggested I get one and she said to make sure I did 10,000 steps.


Cher

[Chemisse]

126. I still have the same cigarette dream every few months or so

And I quit 25 years ago.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

234. The two things that I quit and still dream about: smoking, and working.

They still haunt this non-smoking retiree.

[hay rick]

109. Something I miss.

I don't dream about it but I fantasize about running. I started running local road races when I was 40 and my "career" only lasted about 5 years. I have a brittle, arthritic, one-leg-longer-than-the-other body and I gave it up when I realized I was spending more time on the sidelines because of injuries than I was running. I loved it while I was able to do it.

[LeftInTX]

149. I miss running too

Although you hear about people over 50 running, I've heard some horror stories about severe joint damage.

[TDale313]

3. Actually, not much.

I mean, there are some health things it'd be nice not to worry about but overall life's pretty good. I like who I am now.

[Applan]

182. I'm with you

Apart from a few aches and pains life's pretty good

[Heartstrings]

4. My body seems to be in different "places"...

and there's more of it....

[Rorey]

23. LOL

Hilarious. Love it!

[jehop61]

5. Stamina

Wish I could run around all day and still be out late. Now Happy Hour and an early bird special is all I can manage. Home by dark

[Lebam in LA]

6. Eating whatever I wanted

and never gaining an oz. Now I look at food and gain another pound

[Rorey]

25. Me too!

If my clothes seemed a bit tight, I'd just cut back for a day or two and be right back where I wanted to be. I want my fast metabolism back.

[jaysunb]

8. Erections n/t

[Skittles]

13. well, SOMEONE had to go first

it might as well be JAYSUNB

[jaysunb]

28. LOL ! n/t

[MontanaMama]

81. Thanks jaysnub

I must say I miss hubs going a couple rounds or more on a good night!

[jaysunb]

84. LOL ! n/t

[safeinOhio]

49. Yep

What I once loved to do
I can only do once

[jaysunb]

69. Please share your secret...

I'm only 74 and I think my friends might be in on something I'm not.

[Chemisse]

127. LOL! I miss having a husband with erections!

Time is not kind to the penis.

[jaysunb]

140. You and my wife....n/t

[Skittles]

220. you know what they say

you don't want female plumbing before age 50 and you don't want male plumbing after age 50

[Applan]

183. Go vegan

Honestly it's the best decision you'll ever make

[JDC]

9. Less peeing, definitely less peeing

[Jeroen]

40. Less and shorter n/t

[luvMIdog]

77. yes! Why do we pee more? I dunno

[Skittles]

180. one cause is the enlarged prostate

but guys should always let their doctors know and be vigilant about their THOROUGH annual checkups

[luvMIdog]

185. I'm a woman ;)

[golfguru]

207. Bladder muscles get weaker with age.

As do all other muscles! It is just natural thing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. Omigod, my dear Skittles!

After having FOUR joints replaced over the last several years, what I miss most is the lack of pain and the flexibility I used to have.

[Skittles]

11. awwwwwwwwwww

how are you doing Ms. Pegster.....is it getting ANY better?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. Aw, thanks, sweetie!

It actually IS getting better, though it's still glacial.

My right knee is the newest replacement, and now I am 10 degrees out of being entirely flat while the leg is fully extended. We still hope to get me to zero. I AM making progress.

Didn't mean to disturb you!

[Skittles]

21. naw I'm not disturbed

well, I *AM* disturbed, but that is a regular state of being

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. Oh, do I hear that!!!

Me too.

I asked my ortho MD what would be the worst thing about not getting my knee flat, and he said "Well, you'd walk funny."

Well! I already walk funny!



Oh well.

[Skittles]

48. I guess we need to appreciate the fact that we can walk

yes INDEED

[golfguru]

36. My first knee problem occurred 4 days ago...

My right knee became very painful after a 2 mile walk on the beach. Then the area around the knee became swollen. Very painful to walk. This was first such incident. So I had no idea what was wrong. I thought must have broken a tendon or something in the knee. After 2 days of pain, saw the doctor. She sent me to X-Ray. Next day she gave me the bad news. Beginning of arthritic degeneration of bones in knee joint.

After 2 more days of rest and knee braces, pain is gone, and swelling is better, but now I am afraid to walk!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

38. Try not to be afraid....that's the trick.

Eventually you may need to replace your knee.

Don't put it off when your doctor says do it. I'm 73 and I think that's part of why my rehab has been so difficult this time. My left knee got replaced 5 years ago, and it was pretty easy.

Best of luck to you! PM me if you want support. I'll be happy to supply you with that!

[LeftInTX]

163. When you start walking again avoid the beach/sand

The drag on your joints could have exacerbated your symptoms. The good news is many people with arthritis survive without a whole lot of symptoms.

[golfguru]

204. Thanks for the kind encouragement

I know walking 2 miles every other day is what has kept me away from heart attacks, away from strokes, away from high blood pressure and away from diabetes, at age 76. So I simply can not give it up. But will take it easy for a week or two until the knee had a chance to recover. I went shopping today with a knee brace. It was slower walking but no pain.

[True Blue American]

227. Do you like the pool?

A walker all my life I find the pool a great substitute without the pressure.

Silver Sneakers is keeping millions active.

[golfguru]

233. Great suggestion!

The club house pool is 100 steps from my building. Only problems I had in the past swimming in pools was getting ears water logged and I blame my balding hair on the chlorine in the pools.

[steve2470]

167. best wishes to your progress, Peggy

[The River]

12. Time

There is so little of it left.

[Skittles]

17. yes

who was it that said, Don't count the days, make the days count......Ali, I think. Definitely starts hitting home more.

[Yonnie3]

14. I don't remember.

I occasionally struggle to come up with a word or name. The more I worry about it, the less likely I am to remember it. For example, I can remember and describe the businesses on a street as well as name the cross streets, but can't come up with the name of the street.

If I don't worry, it will come to me in a minute or two.

Now what was it I miss?

[Arkansas Granny]

18. Well, you know the two signs of old age. First your memory goes and then

your memory goes.

[golfguru]

32. Wrong! Memory is the 2nd thing to go!!

I can not remember what was 1st.

[Skittles]

216. I'm unsure if I could tell I was losing memory ability

I have always been so absent-minded

[benld74]

16. Staying OUT late enough to have this inside the mind conversation with myself,

If you leave now, get home to bed get to sleep and get up for work, you'd get 4 hours sleep.
1 hour later
If you leave now, get home to bed get to sleep and get up for work, you'd get 3 hours sleep
1 hour later
If you leave now, get home to bed get to sleep and get up for work, you'd get 2 hours sleep
1 hour later
What's the best breakfast place between here and work,,,,,,,,,,,,


I did the above ONCE in my lifetime. Wish I had done more

[Rorey]

29. I used to do that regularly

I did all-nighters all the time in my 20's. Party all night, go home, take a shower, go to work. I really don't know how I managed. It was so stupid. I guess I must have had fun, but I don't really remember.

[Zoonart]

79. Oh Man....

I did this several times. Once, I just made it under the wire into the choir loft on Sunday morning. LOL. Good times.

[Rorey]

20. What I DON'T miss....

...is being so stupid as I was when I was younger.

Sorry. I know that's not the question. I certainly have gained a lot of respect for a lot of older people and the knowledge they've acquired through living now that I'm one of them.

I'm in my early 60's, so I don't know if that qualifies for "geezerhood". Turning 55 was somewhat difficult for me. I always felt that I looked younger than my age, and people told me that they couldn't believe that I was as old as I was. Then in my late 50's I felt like my age was starting to catch up with my looks. I'm really not very vain, but I do miss looking younger. At the same time, I've accepted that those days are gone. I'm not going to get botox or fillers or surgery, and I'm okay with the increasing amount of gray hair that I have. Coloring it is a pain in the ass. I'm happy for what I've got. I feel pretty good and I get around pretty good. I'm more careful than I used to be so I don't break a hip or something.

I've never been someone who lived in the past, but I used to be more of a dreamer than I now am. Now I live in the present. There is usually something wonderful and enjoyable in each day. I think I appreciate these things more than I did when I was younger.

So, I guess my answer if that I miss looking younger and I miss that "devil may care" attitude about taking care of my body so I don't break it. I'll get back to you when I get deeper into "geezerhood", but right now that's about it.

[Skittles]

22. will run another thread later

asking geezers what they appreciated from getting older

geezerhood I guess is relative - probably a good definition is when you realize you never appreciated being young

[Rorey]

34. Then I'm there!

Many of my younger days were very difficult. I didn't even know how to appreciate things back then. There were some great times mixed in with the tough stuff. I wish I had appreciated them more when they were happening.

[Cattledog]

26. Never having to think about my health at all.

[Skittles]

219. true, dat

I remember a time when little heart twinges and errant pains just didn't mean much of anything

[tazkcmo]

27. My body.

I was an athletic type, loved sports. It's all breaking now.

[Skittles]

221. I have found that you have to do more

but your goal should switch more from looking great to feeling great

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

30. Running, climbing trees

Being able to waste entire days at the swimming pool. The certainty and comfort thinking that bad things happen to others and not to me. The knowledge that I'd eventually do something special and worthwhile, (still waiting).

[Skittles]

116. heh

when I was a kid I loved to climb trees, but I could not climb down (I'd get dizzy looking down; still do). My dad used to have to come get me....he'd tell me IF YOU CAN'T GET DOWN DON'T CLIMB UP but I could not help myself, I LOVED climbing those damn trees

[golfguru]

31. Mid-70's here, and miss eating a large pizza

with sausage, cheese & mushrooms in one meal haha..

[Skittles]

118. ...

I really paid for eating too much rich cake last week.....badly

[padfun]

33. Health and Energy

I miss having good health and energy to do things.

Also, my plumbing just doesn't work anymore. I do miss that.

[Binders Keepers]

35. Attending parties full of young, attractive people

The parties I go to now are mainly through my wife's faculty colleagues at university. Most of them are middle-aged or older and have let themselves go. It's rare for me these days to actually attend a party where there are any attractive people of either sex. Maybe it's shallow of me, but conversations lack a certain "spark," and it makes for a pretty mundane couple of hours.

[Skittles]

66. hey

I'm the same weight I was when I was 20

WOO!!

I was talking to a coworker the other day and we both remarked how we would never want to live in a "retirement community" - screw that - I want to be near young people!

[rzemanfl]

80. I'm the same weight I was at 23. n/t

[skylucy]

92. I am too, but my 108 pounds sure doesn't look good in a bikini anymore.

[rzemanfl]

95. My stomach was a lot flatter then, before decades of sitting at a desk. n/t

[Skittles]

107. yes, it is arranged a bit, er, differently

[Warpy]

37. I always had lousy eyesight with ferocious eyestrain headaches

but I'd love it if my body worked as well as it did then. The pain was terrible and no one would believe a 20 year old had any kind of arthritis, but my joints were relatively undamaged and I could move.

[AJT]

39. The belief that someone could fall in love with me.

At 59 that belief in romantic, passionate love has gone.

[Skittles]

67. aw no, that should never go!

[kimbutgar]

96. No no you can find love you just have not look for it; it will find you

"Happiness and love are like a butterfly the more you chase it the more it will elude you but if your turn your attention to other things it will sit softly on your shoulder."

All my life I've just accepted that this is the way. I lost my long time job and was panicking about paying the bills but I picked myself and started doing other things and reassessing what I wanted. I ended up doing two jobs and I found out I like helping the young and old and work days I want.

It's never to late for love.

[WinkyDink]

111. Yes, it is. I am 67, and have lost and gained that which I should have kept and never acquired!

[Rhiannon12866]

117. My grandmother was widowed a week after her 40th birthday

She found the closest thing I knew as a grandfather at 86. He was quite a guy, smart, accomplished - and a liberal! He was only three years older than she was, LOL, and I loved him, too...

[Ron Obvious]

41. Firm buttocks and the sexual capacity of a rutting rhinoceros.

Sigh...

[Skittles]

60. you can no longer bounce a quarter off my ass

maybe a dime

[enough]

42. Not wondering who the hell is that person in the mirror. NT

[skylucy]

89. Oh yes! You definitely nailed it! This whole journey is just plain weird. How can I feel the same

on the inside (my mind and soul) yet look so different on the outside? Seems like such a dirty trick, but the alternative to getting old is not a very good option.

[mopinko]

43. i miss having a future. someday is over.

i am 5 years into building an urban farm. when i started it i still had that limitless horizon.
now i look at things i want to do there, and think that it is stupid to invest in something i may not get to use/enjoy, let alone get my money's worth.

extra hard for me, as i am an unrepentant dreamer of big dreams.
so many things i thought i would be able to do "someday". now i have what i will have for the rest of my life, if i can hang onto it.
the horizon is very narrow. not gone yet, but very narrow.

and yeah, joints in good condition would be nice. 3 surgeries in the last 9 years to shore up this old bod. each one harder than the last.
this spring is sucking golf balls through garden hose. and my broken old bod is making me just watch it happen.

[Chemisse]

128. I'm a big dreamer too.

The dreams and plans are as fun as the reality, once achieved. It's sad to have to curtail them.

[rock]

44. My health in general

My physical energy specifically.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

45. Dancing! I could, and did, dance all night. And the kids I grew up with, many of whom are

now departed!

[cornball 24]

50. I'm with you, Floyd! Still love to dance but my old body has a hard time

keeping up my stride!

[Skittles]

217. I never liked dancing

but I sure do like watching ice dancing and hip hop dancers.....so ATHLETIC

[Phentex]

46. Energy! I didn't need much sleep at all back then and I was hyper on top of that...

I did my best on about 4 to 5 hours of sleep and I had energy all day. I got so much done in a day!

Now I want 8 hours of sleep at night and a nap every single day. I don't get one but I want one!

[csziggy]

47. I miss that wonderful feeling of immortality

That and the ability to work without pain. I can no longer walk distances without running out of breath or bend over or do anything that involves back muscles without pain and muscle spasms.

Of course, those are symptoms of the life I led before I realized I could die, so I guess I earned this pain. (Well, maybe the running out of breath is not - I was just diagnosed with a heart murmur, probably a bad valve that was maybe congenital.)

I realized I was not immortal the day that my horse spun out on the road and slipped and fell with me. She landed on my right ankle so it was badly injured but I was lucky it wasn't broken. I was feeling sorry for myself because it was so painful I couldn't even float in the cold waters of a local sinkhole. But then I heard the news report -a young woman had the same thing happen as had with me. her horse spooked, got out on the road, slipped and fell. She was not as lucky as I was. Right behind the truck that spooked her horse was another truck.Both she and the horse were hit and killed. THEN I felt the weight of mortality hit hard.

By the way, about twenty years ago my eye doctor asked if I might be interested in lasik. I was willing to talk to the people so he gave them my number. When they called, they said my worst eye was too bad to be a candidate for the surgery. They also told me that at my age I should just wait for the inevitable cataract surgery and they would replace my lens with a corrective one.

Yeah, I was under 50 then. My Dad got his first cataract surgery at 87. Mom is now 96 and still does not need it. Somehow waiting another twenty years for better eyes is not promising. On the other hand, my new needlework glasses let me see every thread with great detail, so I'm satisfied for now.

[Skittles]

62. your parents had some longevity!

you will too, yes?

[csziggy]

102. I'm hoping I inherited their longevity genes

Dad lived to be 90 and so far Mom is still doing pretty good. All my grandparents lived into their late 70s, even my grandfather who did physical labor for much of his life.

[LeftInTX]

162. I've heard great things about cataract surgery

My mom had it. My MIL had it. It is pretty easy, unlike all the other surgeries we can be facing. My SIL had it with both eyes. Her case was unique because she had bad vision and something happened that led to cataracts at a young age. She raves about it.

[csziggy]

164. Cataract surgery is fine when you need it

So far, at 64+ I show no signs of needing it any time soon.

Cool note - a distant cousin of mine performed cataract surgeries in India and Afghanistan in the 1840s. He was not a doctor - his brother was. When his fiance threw the cousin over, he took his brother's medical books and left home in Pennsylvania. He ended up working for the British in India and styled himself as a doctor and a lot more. He even was named Prince of Gor in Afghanistan.

He is thought to be the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's "The Man Who Would Be King" and was the first American in Afghanistan. He was the subject of a historical book by Ben Macintyre. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Harlan

[jcboon]

229. Really interesting story!

I spent a good amount of reading about your relative--very cool.

[csziggy]

230. The book is pretty good

The author heard about Harlan when he was researching the history of Afghanistan about the time the US attacked it in 2001. I enjoyed the book a lot and learned a bit about the early years of the British in Afghanistan. Harlan was thrown out because he disliked what the British were doing with what was called "The Grand Game."

My favorite part of the book is when Harlan, a Quaker and Mason, gets drunk with an Islamic Rosicrucian - for medicinal purposes.

Harlan was descended from a Quaker who purchased lots from William Penn while he was still in Ireland. He moved his family to Pennsylvania about 1684. The ancestor of my branch was thrown out by the Quakers after he and his wife had their first child six months after the approval to wed came through. It was sort of embarrassing for his father in law who had donated the land for the Quaker Meeting House and helped to build it. Eventually they were let back in but their son (or grandson, there are 3-4 Aaron Harlans in a row) moved to North Carolina and got thrown out of the Quakers again for joining in the Regulators and assisting the state militia in the Revolution.

[jcboon]

231. Thanks for this

Fun way to spend an afternoon.

[Raster]

51. I turned 60 in December... I'm still a twenty-something kid inside...

...just now that twenty-something kid is inside of a sixty-something older guy.

[Freddie]

98. Just turned 60 too

I look in the mirror and see my mother.

[Skittles]

198. I hear you

I look....way too much like "me mum"

[Nay]

255. Well, I'm a woman and I now look like . . . my dad. So count your blessings.

[True Blue American]

226. I hear my Mother

When I speak. Especially if I am upset.

But the pool 3 mornings a week does wonders for both my health and a calming influence.

One thing that cheers me is how many my age are at the Y every morning. We are not going to fall apart if we can help it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

52. Energy.

Also, it would be nice to be able to look in the mirror and not wonder who that tired old bag is.

[Golden Raisin]

53. That your body just responded AUTOMATICALLY

with ease, energy, unlimited stamina, incredible springback when stressed, etc. Just bound out of bed in the morning and go about your non-stop business. No pills, no "prep", no being careful, eating whatever the hell you want, etc. Also, in Winter-time not having to walk gingerly and with clenched muscles and teeth when on icy sidewalks. Still, all in all, it beats the proverbial alternative.

[OregonBlue]

54. Backpacking. I used to backpack all over the world. Now I can't carry more than a little day pack

with my water bottle and some sun screen. Have to plan day trips to the beach and to Mount Hood, etc. I miss being able to hike into remote areas where I could really get away from it all or hike into villages to meet really interesting people who had almost never interacted with westerners. Still, I can hike. No bunions. No knee replacements or hip replacements, etc. so I guess I should be celebrating instead of complaining.

[madamesilverspurs]

55. Coin-toss car trips.

Pack a bag with clothes for a week, throw it into the back seat of the VW, toss a coin to determine direction and go. We'd toss the coin a few times during the week, limiting ourselves only in terms of distance. Found some delightful and interesting places, and met some characters along the way.

Nowadays I have to spend a week planning for a 45 minute drive to Denver. Sheesh.



.

[Croney]

56. I miss drinking.

[duncang]

57. Standing up

And not having to unfold slowly. Takes me about 4-5 steps to straighten up.

[Skittles]

64. right now I only feel that stiffness when I wake up

no doubt it progresses

[MFM008]

58. Free Movement

Joints bad.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

59. Never giving a thought to the future!

[Skittles]

63. what kills me is, I worry about money more now

back then, I didn't have any and didn't worry!

[CountAllVotes]

178. +1,000 !!

No kidding! Had nothing and could have cared less about this fact!

[Skittles]

181. what worries us all

is they changed the retirement game with no real warning (401Ks were never meant to replace pensions) and the job situation is rocky....sure, it seems good now, but where offshore folk were clamoring to do our jobs cheaper, robots will take care of that

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

61. Kinda being up to date on music

Me and my girlfriend officially felt "old" when we were at Guess store, she was waiting for a change room to try on a dress and we learned who Nicki Minaj was for the first time.

I have friends who are mainstream commercially successful musicians, and in that moment I was just standing their mouth agape and feeling really, really old.

[steve2470]

225. I use Google News and I routinely go to the entertainment section

https://news.google.com/news/section?cf=all&pz=1&ned=us&topic=e&siidp=7daf6a47e312fa933613284657a1ba1e2201&ict=ln

At least I know who's hot in some genres including country. It also helps I play a game where they play the latest hip-hop and pop music. The more obscure stuff, I have no clue. I'm big into EDM music, so that's all I REALLY care about.

[ghostsinthemachine]

65. Playing... Disc golf, skiing, volleyball

Music etc. Tough not being able to do any of that.

[hack89]

68. Frequent and effortless erections. nt

[rzemanfl]

97. I'm almost seventy and never had one that was an effort. They just don't happen as often.

Look on the bright side. Standing up without fear of embarrassment is almost a given.

[enid602]

71. Same time

Not having to pee and fart at the same time.

[brush]

74. I'll go the opposite way by answering one thing I've learned.

Knowing not to ask questions about age.

[OilemFirchen]

75. I ache in the places where I used to play.

Bless you, Leonard Cohen.

[Itchinjim]

76. My libido.

I prefer a good night's sleep over a good romp.

[MontanaMama]

86. Oh man...

I love a good romp...still. Sleep is good too but I'm willing to let that go for a night here and there.

[Itchinjim]

93. Not that I'll turn a romp down mind you....

[MontanaMama]

94. Okay, that's good to hear.

And I don't miss an opportunity to get a good nights sleep either...

[golfguru]

208. Now I am much better at golf than at sex?

Age 76!

[JNelson6563]

78. Healing quickly.

[stonecutter357]

82. what do you miss most about being young? kayaking little river canyon .

&ytbChannel=Alabama%20Kayak%20Club

[Skittles]

222. I have always wanted to do that

but....if just the video makes me feel disoriented, maybe not

[Generic Brad]

85. Eating whatever I want

Now I have to religiously watch calories and fat content and sodium. And if I eat a normal portion I gain weight.

I miss eating whatever I want and having trouble maintaining my weight

[rug]

88. I miss tumbling.

[Comatose Sphagetti]

90. Guys (young) at work asked me (59) if I wanted to come over

Saturday night at 9 to play poker. My first thought... "9 o'clock!!?? What the hell, why so late!!??"
Christ, back in the day I didn't even start 'till 10.

[Skittles]

106. see, I always stay awake all night

night worker, and chronic insomniac

I have no problem staying up with the young folk, but I feel like I pay much more for it the next day

[RobinA]

200. Yeah, There's That

Time was I wouldn't be caught dead at a party before 10. Now I'm, "Oh good, I'll be home by 10, I can catch an SVU rerun."

[kacekwl]

99. I miss knowing everything. n/t

[stopbush]

100. Sex with a woman a few years older and much wiser than me.

Now, I'm older than everybody....and there's no sex.

[malthaussen]

242. Funny how that works...

... when I was younger, it was always the older ladies who appealed to me. Now, through some strange transaction, they've all become younger than I.

Well, except for California Peggy.

-- Mal

[greymattermom]

101. Knees and ankles that work right

So I can go hiking in the Rockies with my daughter who lives in Boulder. One thing I enjoy more now, though is Colorado hot springs.

[rurallib]

103. I miss the physical games, running and walking

I was able to keep playing into my 50s, but now I have really bad arthritis in my back.
So now walking a block puts me in severe pain, running is out of the question.
I was a decent and quite competitive racquetball and basketball player in the day.

[roscoeroscoe]

252. Amen y'all

I'm still active duty Army at 58, but I can't PT like I used to! I loved cadence calling, wish I could still go for miles, but no.

Know how you feel about sports - racketball, fencing, volleyball, etc!

[WhiteTara]

104. I would love to move without pain

I used to dance, play racket ball, run, and move freely. Now I can hardly stand and walking is hard.

[bbgrunt]

105. Belief in the goodness of my country.

[steve2470]

108. the lack of being jaded

The only way to escape being jaded these days is to travel far away, or force myself to do new things. The first has issues for me, and the second I'm working on!

[WinkyDink]

110. Swimming every summer day. (I could now, but I'm too self-conscious.) Having relatives to visit.

[Skittles]

114. wait

self-conscious about how you look? Forget that, that should be part of aging: not caring what people think....and swimming would be so beneficial to you. DO IT!

[WinkyDink]

119. I like the way you think! I'm a Scorpio water-baby who never missed a day!

[Texasgal]

112. I honestly wish

I could smoke a joint.

I am afraid of it now and haven't done so in over 25 years. The last time I did it 25+ ago it was horrible and made me paranoid.

I wish I could enjoy just ONCE letting go... UGH.

[Skittles]

113. see it ALWAYS made me paranoid

I wondered if aging had maybe change my chemistry but.....nope. I never could do the weed thang, so I content myself with some heavily-rummed mudslides.

[RobinA]

202. I Have Had

this experience. I was quite the partaker back in the day. Then I graduated got a job, and the last time I smoked I hated it and actually couldn't wait for it to wear off. I haven't given up, though. I'm waiting patiently for legalization and the day I can walk into a shop and try some different strains. Then if I don't like it I'll accept it.

[nolabear]

253. Legalization is amazing! Some of the CBD strains are the best painkillers there are.

Here in WA there are thousands of strains and employees can give you a pretty good idea about strength, duration and quality of effect. But the best thing going is high CBD low THC product. It is remarkably good for joint and muscle pain and relaxation but there's no high to speak of. The fact they can do that is fantastic. And yes, there are many, many people who use it.

[LuckyLib]

248. Senior stoners don't bother with joints. Too harsh. Use medical pot and the techs

can direct you to amazing edibles for every possible outcome -- want mellow? energizing? heady? music-listening? Also, vaporizer pens are great.

[Jim Lane]

115. I'm with Bob Seger: "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then"

Sure, I have the kind of physical decrepitude that others have mentioned. My hearing is bad. But, hey, I love my hearing aids, and the technology wasn't available years ago. (Hint to fellow geezers: You can join AARP real cheap and get a free hearing test.)

No, the main thing that strikes me is that I've had all these years to pile up vain regrets. I can remember so many stupid things I did when I was in my 20s. At least back then I didn't know they were stupid, so I didn't suffer as much. (BTW, I'm including stupid acts and stupid omissions. It would be hard to say which group is worse.)

Obviously there's no purpose to feeling down about things that can't now be changed, and I do catch myself a lot of the time. I also recognize that I have a lot of benefit from remembering my past mistakes. To some extent, I have learned from them.

[raccoon]

120. When I stoop down to pick up something, it's so hard to get back up.

Especially when there's nothing to grab onto to help me, such as a counter.

[Warren DeMontague]

121. Being able to eat and drink whatever I wanted, not exercise and still not gain any weight.

But that shit ended at about age 24.

[smirkymonkey]

141. That lasted until about age early 40-something for me.

Still not quite a geezer yet, but once I hit 50 my metabolism changed a bit and my blood pressure went up. I still think it would be fairly easy for me to lose weight if I tried, but I'm lazy.

Also, my knees are shot from years of hardcore skiing and numerous accidents and surgeries. I used to be able to run down a flight of stairs with lightning speed and complete confidence. Now I'm almost afraid to go down with out using the handrail. God, I hope I don't end up like Trump!

Other than that, I have held up pretty well - no major problems yet.

[Warren DeMontague]

144. I just have to exercise more to keep the same weight.

I think I'm in pretty good shape for my age, but it's a bit of a pain in the ass.

[Skittles]

176. see I am lucky

I walk everywhere, and LOVE cardio / weights

I did not have to exercise when I was younger, and really enjoy it now that I am older.

[Warren DeMontague]

192. Regular exercise definitely does wonders for the emotional/mental health, I've found.

Man, people think I'm an asshole now... imagine if I didn't get regular exercise!

[MrScorpio]

122. Reckless driving.

[cwydro]

123. I miss my mom and dad.

Dad gone in 2012, and I just lost mom in February at the age of 90.

[steve2470]

124. me too

Much comfort to you!

[cwydro]

136. Thank you.

I'm finding it very difficult.

We were very close.

[Skittles]

137. my condolences to you

my parents are both gone too

[cwydro]

143. Thanks Skittles.

I've just been watching a lot of Masterpiece Theatre because that's what we did together most evenings as she weakened.

[CanSocDem]

125. When I was a young man...

...I actually cared what other people thought. Not so much anymore.


.

[Chemisse]

129. I'm not so sure that's a bad thing.

I don't miss being acutely aware of other's opinions of me.

[Chemisse]

130. Just being able to run across a field if I felt like it.

That just felt so nice.

[Dammit Jim]

131. No Insomnia!

It's after 2:30 in the morning here, and I still can't get tp sleep.

[Skittles]

138. lifelong insomniac here

I have learned to work it to my advantage (get more things done)

I imagine it will be much easier when I am no longer working 12 hour night shifts though

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

132. Playing tennis everyday

and twice on some weekend days at 65 legs just can't hold up to that punishment anymore. Although I can and do walk with my dog at least two miles a day, sometimes between five and eight miles. Took up kayaking to fill the times between.

Believe it or not I miss working. I ran my own carpet and upholstery biz. But heart attacks and strokes finished that.

[Skittles]

218. great that you get that much walking in

and I wonder if people miss working more when they were their own boss

[Freddie]

133. Losing friends and relatives

Who are *your* generation, not your parents'.
In the past 2 years we've buried my sister-in-law (53), BIL (55) and a good friend of DH (60). All heart issues. And watching others deal with age-related health issues. I'm good - so far.
And it's taking some getting used to bring the "oldsters" in the family. Only one left of my parents' generation, an aunt age 90 and doing great.

[Skittles]

146. it is hard watching the older generation go

then seeing the wave start on your own generation

[DFW]

189. Looking in the mirror and saying, "You're next!"

That's my pet peeve.

[femmocrat]

134. Dancing.

I was a great dancer.... used to dance all night and on a local TV show like Bandstand.

And having lots of boyfriends!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

135. Just standing up quickly instead of having to unfold

which is what happens when I've been sitting for too long.

Also, being able to sneeze without ever farting.

And having parents.

And not seeing the names of people you know in the obituary column. Although I admit to actively looking for the name of an old boyfriend to see if the duplicitous bastard is dead yet.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

139. "It"

If you know what I mean *nudge nudge wink wink*

[MicaelS]

142. As a man, not having to get up to urinate ...

Every 2 hours at night was wonderful. These days, if I get 4 hours uninterrupted sleep a night, it is a godsend.

[Skittles]

147. I did not realize how much that affected guys until I read the replies on this post

Last edited Fri Apr 21, 2017, 10:59 PM - Edit history (1)

sounds like a real pain

[MicaelS]

161. It really is.

I am literally like the person in those TV ads. I always have to know where the nearest bathroom is located.

[steve2470]

166. I have the same issue

Of course, it would help if I radically cut back my fluid consumption, but oh well.

[ProfessorGAC]

145. Playing Basketball

Being in the band because I could get home at 330 am and still to work at 7
Hitting a golf ball 275 instead of 225
I don't have too much to complain about I guess

[Codeine]

148. Feet that don't hurt all the damned time.

My health and fitness are great for a guy pushing 50 but I've got plantar fasciitis like a motherfucker.

[Skittles]

175. I had that once

it hangs around for quite a long time but eventually will cease.....it was very painful indeed

[Freddie]

254. Cortisone shot in the heel

Miracle cure for plantar fasciitis. Ask your podiatrist. I also wear compression socks designed for plantar fasciitis, keeps your ligaments in the right places and provides arch support. Haven't had any heel pain in over 2 years.

[LeftInTX]

150. Not having to haul a bottle of water everywhere

By everywhere, I mean everywhere, including church.
I've got horrible dry mouth.

[Skittles]

152. ooh

I HATE waking up with dry mouth - actually, it WAKES ME UP

have you tried ACT dry mouth lozenges.....I like them

[LeftInTX]

153. I use Oramoist when I exercise and Xylimelts for the other stuff

I order them in bulk from Amazon.

The ACT doesn't do anything for me. The Oramoist and Xylimelts have an adhesive that sticks to your mouth. Oramoist is stronger, but has citric acid in it, so I don't want to overuse it. The Xylimelts are like white mints, with barely a hint of mint. (Even mint makes my mouth worse!)

The Oramoist will last for an entire workout (1.5 hours) The Xylimelts vary, on how much talking I do. Usually up to an hour if I don't talk much.

[smirkymonkey]

168. I have that too.

Is that an age thing? I drink about 10 liters of water per day. I always have my bottle with me and just keep refilling it.

[Coventina]

151. Not being in near constant pain.

My arthritis pain makes me want to kill myself sometimes.

[Hoyt]

154. Speaking of vision, have you had cataract surgery yet? I wore big thick glasses

all my life and never could adapt to contacts. Had cataract surgery a year ago. Now I can see my feet in the shower, wake up without grabbing for glasses, no more fog on humid days, no more tunnel vision, etc.

For the most part, I am happier now than ever. Can still exercise, etc. Mostly, I just don't care what others think, a first for me.

Of course, I had a tooth pulled Monday, a kidney stone a month ago, just pulled a hamstring and hobble, etc. But, I've also discovered remedies that work.

But we all know that things could change with one blood clot or mutated cell.

[Boomerproud]

155. Everything.

The folks, my school friends, being really in shape, the whole "youth" culture of the '60's and '70's (especially the music).

[Panich52]

156. Not being able to do DIY stuff & not playing football, softball

All the "tomboy" stuff I was so good at. 😜

[SonofDonald]

157. I wish oh do I wish

I want my unhammered body back, I want my legs my hips my back. Back

I used to shove crab pots on a tossing soaking deck.

Now I can't ride a bicycle, or a motorcycle, or a snowmachine, but I'm so thankful everything is still attached.

We have many Veterans that aren't so lucky, and non-veterans.

So I just limp along, and smile......

[Skittles]

158. welcome to DU, SonofDonald

[applegrove]

159. I wish I had my taste buds. I'm about to make what i hear is a great

tasting chicken recipe this weekend and chances are I will not be able to taste it.

[JudyM]

172. Fwiw

Sometimes that can be due to zinc deficiency, which is easily remedied. Might be other causes, but you might want to get that checked out.

[applegrove]

173. Thanks. I'm taking vitamins. Really I think it is age related.

[JudyM]

179. Could be.

Although many "age-related" symptoms also correlate with ZN deficiency, and the deficiency is extremely common among seniors (and rarely checked for). Lowered immunity, delayed wound healing, loss of smell/taste acuity, impotence, depression, hair loss etc. Taking a supplement won't help if it's an absorption issue, unf. Maybe this is TMI but it is awful, IMO, that doctors are so focused on treating with meds rather than also being trained in preventive nutrition.

[applegrove]

187. I will make sure to take my vitamins and see if that does not help. My

Doc did offer me to see a nutritionist. I will take that offer next time I see her.

[JudyM]

188. Yes! That would be great. Good luck!

[Kali]

160. My metabolism and my knees.

[Highway61]

165. To be able to walk without pain

my last surgery on my back messed up both my legs. Just can't go the distance anymore. It sucks. However, I am grateful for what I do have. There is always someone who has it a hell of a lot worse. I always hear McCartney singing "When I'm 64"....well here I am.
Time goes by so fast now.......

[smirkymonkey]

169. For everyone with joint pain, I'm going to put in a little product plug

I frequently have a stiff neck/shoulders from being at a computer all day and I use Salon Pas patches. They are the best! It's kind of like Ben Gay, but better - stays on all night, doesn't get all over everything and best of all I don't have to take any ibuprofen or acetaminophen or anything internal. It is my favorite product these days. You can buy them in different sizes. They are also great for low back pain as well. I have even stuck them on my head when I have headaches!

You can order them through Amazon - that is where I found the cheapest price, but CVS also carries them.

[Skittles]

174. I have occasionally used the big Salon patches

when I am stuck on a conference call for hours and hours, they are indeed a gem for low back pain. Not easy to get on solo though - any tips on THAT would be appreciated

[smirkymonkey]

191. Now that is the hard part!

It helps to have a friend on hand for such things. I try my best, but it would be a lot easier to have someone do it for me.

[Skittles]

193. I'm pretty good at laying it flat on the bed

and then easing backwards onto it

at work, I just have a female coworker do it

[shenmue]

170. Naturally dark hair

[Skittles]

223. eh, I was born bald

and I have been blonde ever since

when I was a very young girl I asked my mum why I couldn't have beautiful black hair like my cousin Sherry.....her response: "She's adopted".

[Smickey]

171. Innertubes, friends and lazy river floats with the antisipation of whats up ahead.

Was a creature of the water but sadly no longer.

[CountAllVotes]

177. Good enough health to be able to work

n/t

[Bayard]

184. I do miss my body, fitness, and looks....

But more than anything, I miss my family. At almost 60, I've lost my big brother, both sisters, and my parents. I still have dreams of our big, noisy, happy get togethers. The siblings were best friends as well.

[Skittles]

194. losing my older (by 11 months) brother was harder than both my parents

he died of alcoholism....I just wish I could talk to him one more time

[tblue37]

186. Being young. nt

[billh58]

258. Says it all n/t

[DFW]

190. I took some pre-emptive action many years back

I had my official "Over-the-Hill" party on my 21st birthday. I figured better to get it out of the way early, so I wouldn't be wondering later on when it might be decided for me.

[no_hypocrisy]

195. No attention to time

Instead of living my life with the expectation of infinity, I'm now looking at will I outlive my money, will I be able to work in 20 years, will I need (whatever) in 20 years, etc.

[Skittles]

196. yup

I think about how soon twenty years ago seemed, and.....how old I will be in 20 years

[shanti]

197. I'm with you on the vision thing

It would be wonderful to not wear glasses ever again! Vision was fine until I hit 45, then it all went downhill, and pretty fast.

[Highway61]

199. When I'm 64 :)

[img][/img]

[cheapdate]

201. Lots and lots of free time. Long summer days that lasted forever.

[napi21]

203. 73 Being able to drive. I'm in a wheelchair now and I long for the days when I wanted something,

and I'd jump in my car and go!

[Skittles]

209. that loss of independence is a truly tough one

yes indeed

[thecrow]

206. Holding the hand of the man I loved

He fell last year and hit his head and died right there in our house.
I learned that CPR and medics don't always work.
My life has changed drastically. Not a lot of dreams anymore.
Having a hard time deciding what to do, but I am trying.

[Skittles]

210. .....

hang in there, thecrow....someone is always here on DU for you, always

[thecrow]

212. Thank you, Skittles

I also greatly miss the ability of running. The other day, a friend and I were going into a restaurant for lunch and got caught in an instant rain shower. My friend made it out of the rain by running, but I got really wet because I can't run.
My left knee pretty much dictates what I am doing for the day, and my lower back is a bunch of twisty pinched nerves and degenerative discs. I have been waiting on knee surgery but now there is nobody to help me recover.
I had to hire someone to accompany me the last time I got spinal shots.
I'm glad there is a service that sends people out to help. Locally, there are a few friends but no family.
Sooooo.... I miss the comfort of our relationship.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

213. Not being able to fly

The FAA won't issue a medical because of the meds I have to take.

Also, because of artificial knees, hips and shoulders getting into a small airplane is problematic.

Same if I fall. The "I've fallen and I can't get up" thing isn't as funny when it happens to you...

[Skittles]

214. I had never heard of artificial shoulders

I will be googling that

the pilots I know/knew (I am USAF vet) are very passionate about flying - it wasn't just a job

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

235. I had a "reverse shoulder arthroplasty"

link



Essentially they screw a ball where the socket should be and vice versa. You use different muscles to operate the shoulder, but after a few months I can't tell the difference.

When I asked the doctor if I would be able to play golf after the operation, he said, "Yes." I told him, "Great, because I've never played it before..." link

[Skittles]

237. I am curious

what wore down your shoulders?

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

240. Not a clue

Knees, hips and shoulders lost all cartilage at the same time. No family history of this (although mother had arthritis, and so do I).

Not athletic, not drug/alcohol abuser, only thing I can think of is I drank lots of soft drinks. Rheumatologist didn't have a clue. All joints went to bone on bone when I turned 65, and I spent the next two years having operations. Sucked.

Wish I could be more helpful. Hips and shoulder replacements work fine (if you can find a hip surgeon who uses the modern technique of going in from the side of the hip vs. the old one of going in though the front of the thigh, choose him. Recovery time for the former is a couple of hours, for the latter it's a couple of weeks on the walker and cane.

Two different surgeons did the knees. Pretty much the same result for each. But I can't squat and if I fall it's almost impossible to get up without assistance.

I was doing o.k. on real knees while I was taking glucosamine. Not sure if it worked or if it was a placebo.

[Skittles]

243. wow

it goes to show, you just never know what can happen

still, it's strange in your case because you just know there must have been an underlying cause, they just do not know

[womanofthehills]

247. I had the same reverse surgery after tripping and falling down a whole flight of stairs backwards

Guess I am lucky to be alive - I tumbled down. The dr. said it was fun to figure out how to put my shoulder back together.

The next year, I was bitten by a rattlesnake on my ankle and my leg is still kind of swollen. I have no ACL from an old skiing accident which is messing up my knee.

[steve2470]

224. The having to read small print with glasses is an annoyance

I wear glasses all the time now with "trifocals" (middle distance, long range and close-up), so unless the print is "mousetype", I'm ok. I suppose one day I'll have to break down and get a magnifying glass for the really small print.

One nice thing about getting older is I'm less vain than I used to be. I wore contacts for many years because I didn't think I looked good in glasses. Now I don't give a rat's ass. If a particular woman doesn't like guys who wear glasses....life goes on without her (I'm divorced, so I can say this safely LOL ).

[Skittles]

236. somemone who agrees with me

I am CONSTANTLY looking for my glasses, because I only need them to read

[steve2470]

241. yea, I need em for just about anything, always have

On a side note, no one has commented on my "lack of being jaded" comment. Hmmm.....

It's here.

[Freedomofspeech]

228. Holding my sons as babies and toddlers.

That was such a happy time for me. Now they both live out of state and I hate that I don't see them and my grandsons as much as I would love.

[Skittles]

238. awwwwwwww

it seems to be more common now that people have to move for their job opportunities, which means distance between family members

I was a GI brat and when I was overseas I could not see or talk to my grandparents for years - no internet back then, and it was way to expensive to call

[argyl]

239. Running up stairs two at a time naturally, no thought given to it.

[Skittles]

244. ooh, I still do that

[argyl]

245. Sounds like you've got the knees and attitude of a young'n. I congratulate you.

[HeiressofBickworth]

246. I miss having unlimited choices

Now my choices are quite limited
Due to lack of income
Due to lack of strength/stamina
Due to some chronic illnesses
Due to smaller circle of friends
Due to the "old woman" syndrome -- where no one sees you and no one pays attention.

[Skittles]

249. I guess I just don't notice what other people notice

never did

[3catwoman3]

250. This thread is poignant and hilarious and...

...relevant all at once.

Being somewhat vain, I do miss having smooth, line-and-crease free skin around my mouth and chin. Minimal crow's feet. I've never smoked, and am not a sunbather.

I have worn glasses since I was 9 - really, really nearsighted at 20/400. I could see closeup quite well, but now that has changed. When "they" say that your close vision start to go in your early 40s, "they" weren't kidding. I have had blended bifocals of quite sometime, but if I need to do something really close up, I have to use those magnifying reader things. My glasses need glasses!

Hair color holding up well, thanks to good genes from my dad, who did not go gray until late. I just turned 66 on Monday, and still have very little gray, for which I am very appreciative. I know that will eventually change, so I plan to enjoy it as long as it lasts. I don't think I want to mess with coloring it all once the gray is more dominant because I don't want to have a skunk stripe to cover up every 3 weeks.

Getting my Medicare card last year made me feel ancient.

[Skittles]

257. I really want very young DUers to read this thread

in an effort to do the impossible - make them appreciate being young

[RKP5637]

251. Being 12, thinking how incredibly cool it would be to be 18! n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

256. I miss griping about President Carter.

Those were the days ...